Afghans go to polls to take part presidential election amid security threats
Amin Alemi
Press TV, Kabul
Voters in Afghanistan went to polling stations around the country to cast their ballots in presidential elections on Saturday.
While Afghan security forces established checkposts on all roads and streets of big cities like capital Kabul, at least one person has been killed and 27 others wounded in bomb and mortar attacks on voting centers.
Despite high security threats from terrorist groups like Daesh and the Taliban, Afghans cast their ballots to select the country's president for the next five years.
Wais Shoja ,is one of those 9.5 million Afghans who are eligible to vote. He believes the move is part of his effort to promote democracy and say "No" to brutality.
The Taliban had threatened voters to stay away from the election or face dire consequences. Small-scale explosions were reported in some cities including Kabul and Kandahar, but the Afghan officials praise efforts made by security forces for protecting 5000 polling centers.
There were also accusations that voting was flawed and the voter turnout was very thin, heightening fears that an unclear result could drive country into further chaos.
The twice-delayed vote took place after Taliban-US peace talks collapsed earlier this month. The two main candidates are the incumbent, Ashraf Ghani, and chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah.
Preliminary results are not expected before Oct. 17 and final results not until Nov. 7. If no candidate gets 51% of the vote, a second round will be held between the two leading candidates.
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